Adam Azim to Face Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in IBF Title Eliminator on 4 December
British boxer Adam Azim will fight Mexico's Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela at London's Copper Box on 4 December. The bout is an IBF title eliminator, a fight that decides who moves to the front of the queue for a world title shot.
The IBF is one of boxing's four main sanctioning bodies, the organisations that approve and rank world champions. The IBF belt is currently vacant. Richardson Hitchins gave it up after moving up to welterweight, having signed with Zuffa Boxing. The winner of Azim against Gollaz Valenzuela is in line to challenge for the belt in early 2027, according to BBC Sport.
Azim is 24 and has been unbeaten in 15 professional fights since he made his debut in 2020. Twelve of his wins have come by stoppage, meaning the referee ended the fight or his opponent could not continue. He has knocked out each of his last six opponents. His most recent fight came in May, when he stopped Steve Claggett in three rounds at Wembley Arena. That bout was shown live on BBC Two.
Gollaz Valenzuela is 32. His record stands at 32 wins, five losses and one draw, and 18 of those wins came by stoppage. He lost two world title eliminators in 2025, to Subriel Matias and Lindolfo Delgado. He returned to winning form in May with a knockout victory. Ring Magazine reports that the fight is scheduled over 12 rounds.
The vacant belt had already been the subject of a planned fight. Delgado and Arthur Biyarslanov, the Russian-Canadian boxer, were due to meet for it on the undercard of Christian Mbilli against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in Saudi Arabia. The undercard is the programme of fights staged before the main event. BBC Sport reports that Delgado withdrew earlier this week, and that his team cited safety concerns.
For casual fans, the key point is simple. Azim has a strong knockout record and a clear path, while Gollaz Valenzuela has a long history of tough fights and a recent win to build on. Both men are now fighting for a route to a world title, and 4 December is the next step on that route.
